Registration is now open for all Flowerhandlers FEBRUARY classes, courses, activities, and events.

I love hearing from former students – especially when they have success stories to share. During this past fall and holiday season several students touched base to let me know how they were doing.

Recently certified student, S.R., was able to teach a workshop of her own in her retail store this past December – a huge jump for the shy girl who didn’t trust her own design skills just a few months ago.

C.B. took the Focus on Shapes and Wedding Bliss curses in 2009 and having completed 5 weddings for friends and family members on her own since then and landing part-time work with an event planner, came back in this winter to finish her certification process with the Life Celebrations and Holidays & Gifts. She’ll soon be off to England where she might broaden her horizons by testing out floral opportunities there.

Design School and Business Development student Y.D. is taking her independent design practice to new heights by moving her offices and workshop to a leased studio space this month.

And, 2099 graduate of all four Flowerhandlers Design School Courses, M.H. – Bought a Retail Flower Shop in November 2011!

Four students … Four very different paths … All Enjoying their Journeys – I love it.

Congratulations to you all for pursuing your dreams and designing businesses that serve you well.

We are looking forward to sharing lots of fun filled flower activities with you in the Flowerhandlers Studio this year.

For a complete list of our 2012 schedule, see the DATES page on this site (right sidebar). Below is what’s happening in the studio in JANUARY.

(Registration for January activities is now closed)

CERTIFICATE COURSE

Saturday & Sunday January 14 & 15, 9AM – 3PM and again on Monday & Tuesday January 16 & 17, 9AM-3PM we are teaching the Certificate Course: Focus on Shapes – $750. It is seen by most to be the place to start if you ever wanted to learn floral design.

The course covers – four centerpieces, four stylized arrangements, and four basic designs with a modern twist. In these two class days you’ll do 12 pieces that you can use for home décor, gift giving, and lifestyle enhancement throughout the year for yourself, your friends and family or for clients.

For more details about the Flowerhandlers Design School and the curriculum visit: www.FlowerhandlersDesignSchool.com.

CELEBRITY DESIGNER WORKSHOP

Doug Vogel AAF is leading the Wednesday Workshop, “Winter Whites” on January 18 from 10AM to 2PM – $105.

Doug has gathered three vintage white containers and will focus on using the various textures of fresh white flowers, variegated foliages, trims, and embellishments to create designs with interest and appeal for home décor that replaces all those holiday decorations.

Who needs color when white on white offers this dramatic effect!

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

On Wednesday January 18 10AM – 2PM Dottie Harrigan will hold a business development Focus Group “Designing the Floral Business of Your Dreams – $100.

The Focus Group is a spin off of the Flowerhandlers quarterly Boot Camps and offers business owners and/or future flower handers an arena for creating a new project, making a new marketing plan, or transitioning their business to serve them better.

Join us in the Flowerhandlers Studio this month and Enjoy Your Floral Journey!

Open Studio – Make-n-Take

Saturday 11/5/11 – 9 AM -12PM

($55)

All the display pieces have to be created for the November 6^th Gathering! Fledgling designers and Future Flower Handlers can experience hands-on learning at its best by working with experienced designers Doug Vogel AAF, Nature’s Floral Artist and Dottie Harrigan as they style the display pieces for the next day’s event!

You’ll work behind the scenes and learn how twelve or more different designs are constructed – from concept, to mechanics, then flower selection and placement. And, upon completion of the display pieces, you’ll create an arrangement of your own (using one of the styling methods from the morning’s work) to keep and take with you.

The studio is limited to 10 students – Register now to save your place.

Register by 10/31/11

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Celebrity Designer – Autumn Armatures & More!

Sunday 11/6/11 – 9AM-12PM

($105)

Join Doug Vogel AAF (Natures Floral Artist) for an autumn armature hands-on workshop with a focus on using lush foliages, branches, vines (and flowers!)  to design natural looking centerpieces, accent pieces, and gift items for all the upcoming fall festivities your clients will be hosting, attending, and participating in.

You’ll make three different arrangements using armatures and styling techniques that you can reproduce throughout the year for any holiday or occasion.

The studio is limited to 10 students – Register now to save your place.

Register by 10/31/11

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Boot Camp – Progressive Floristry 101

Sunday 11/6 9AM-12PM

($150)

The Progressive Floristry Boot Camp is perfect for floral business start-ups, businesses in transition, and those just needing a little boost of energy. The three components (Overview, Workshop, and Class) have been proven beneficial for floral professionals with curious minds, eager hearts, and determined spirits time and time again.

1.) Running an INDEPENDENT Floral Business offers an Overview of the current state of the floral industry so anyone wanting to enjoy floristry as livelihood can find their perfect place in the new floral industry and thrive.

2.) Designing the Floral Business of YOUR Dreams is a hands-on business planning workshop for progressive florists who want to design or redesign the business of their dreams. The workshop offers enjoyable ways to develop a personal business plan to serve them through the year, aligning with their dreams, desires, interests, and allowing them to live the lifestyle of the dreams! Attendees will learn step-by-step methods that chart their floral journey, taking their WISHES for their business through 5 Levels of Development and 4 Stages of Planning to become a REALITY.

3.) Websites That Work FOR Florists offers practical ways to use e-commerce, websites, blogs, e-mail, social networking, and other modern techniques to:

1. Attract & market to their perfect customers
2. Create customer loyalty and,
3. Get control of their twenty-first century businesses …

While aligning with and making the most use of their existing wire service memberships.

Register by 11/3/11

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The Gathering – Promoting Flowers & Floristry

Sunday 11/6/11 – 12PM-4PM

FREE for Professional Flowerhandlers Community Members

The Gatherings are offered as a reward, benefit, and “Thank You” to Professional Flowerhandlers Community Members. They generally consist of:

~ Fantastic Freebies! – Upon arrival attendees will receive gifts that help them sell more flowers, to more people, for more reasons, far more often.

~ Exclusive Giveaways! – Registrants will receive samples of a new cutting edge technology product (not even offered on the market yet) that prolong the longevity of fresh cut flowers.

~ Wonderful Raffles! – All arrangements will be raffled off (free raffle tickets upon arrival) and given away to attendees.

~ Fun Prizes! – Floral Hard Goods and Supplies will be given away as contest prizes.

~ Inspiring Floral Displays! – Designs featuring donated products from our members and subscribers align with upcoming season will be on display.

~ Beneficial Networking! – Find out what’s happening with local: Wholesalers, Organizations, Schools, Service Providers, Floral retailers, Freelance designers, Students, and more.

~ Insightful Education / Open Studio! – Experienced designers will be on hand to offer insight into specific design processes or procedures you need or want to learn.

~Empowering Presentation! – We all make our living through the medium of flowers. And in order for any one of us to grow we need our clients, customers, and consumers to use more flowers. Come see how Flowerhandlers can help you grow your business.

Register by 11/3/11

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Design School: Life Celebrations Course

Saturday 11/12/11 & Sunday 11/13 – 9AM-3PM or

Monday 11/14 & Tuesday 11/15 – 9AM-3PM

($750)

Flowerhandlers offers four certificate courses in professional floral design. This month the Wedding Bliss course is being taught on a weekend and on a Monday / Tuesday. A full description, details, and registration for this course (and the other three courses) can be found at www.FlowerhandlersDesignSchool.com.

The studio is limited to 10 students – Register now to save your place.

Register by 11/5/11

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Business Development – Focus Group

Wednesday 11/16/11 – 10AM-2PM

($100)

FREE for Subscribers

Dottie Harrigan offers business coaching and concept development for progressive floral professionals through small group conversation, brainstorming, and sharing as a beneficial, cost effective alternative to her private consultation services. This focus group will serve you best after you have taken our Boot Camp.

Register by 11/9/11

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Celebrity Designer – Harvest Home Decor Workshop

Wednesday 11/16/11 – 10AM-2PM

($105)

David Shover AIFD, CFD, AAF, PFCI (www.DavidShover.com) is making a guest appearance in the Flowerhandlers studio to show and share his inspirational “Fun-With-Flowers” ideas for Harvest-time Home Décor.

Make This Harvest Arrangement ...

Whether you’re a Do-It-Yourselfer or a professional designer with residential clients you won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn David’s insightful tips, tricks, and techniques …

... and this one ...

… as he guides you through the creation of three unique harvest designs to keep for yourself – or to share with friends, family, colleagues, or clients.

... and THIS one - in David's class

The studio is limited to 10 students – Register now to save your place.

Register by 11/9/11

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Hope to see You in the Studio this November …

Warm Regards & Enjoy Your Floral Journey!

Dottie